'It's horrific': Demand for answers as Adelaide Lightning teeters on brink of collapse

Adelaide Lightning's most successful coach is demanding answers as the club stares down the barrel of potential collapse, leaving players in limbo.

9News Adelaide revealed on Tuesday night that the Lightning were weeks from folding, with ownership saying the team were no longer welcome in a restructured WNBL.

Four-time championship coach Jan Stirling expressed dismay at the prospect of the team's demise.

READ MORE: Ugly scenes as NBA megastar fires up at rival's father

READ MORE: 'Straw that broke camel's back' before Ugle-Hagan took leave

READ MORE: 'I don't get it': Gould's warning over rumoured DCE move

"You think of this city without an Adelaide 36ers, like it just wouldn't happen ... yet we're prepared to let the Lightning go," she said.

"It's horrific, it's horrible to think about it."

She emphasised the importance of the club for aspiring young players.

"We've got those young kids coming in now through the development pathways... we have to have the home for them," she said.

Meanwhile, players are preparing for a season that may never happen.

"It is a weird one, thinking I'm signed and contracted with a team... but there's no confirmation if that team's going to be there or not," Lightning guard Tayla Brazel said.

"It's definitely been a bit of a stressful time not knowing what's going to happen."

Despite the challenges, there has been a ray of hope from the WNBL, with chief executive Jennie Sager saying the league is "exploring new ownership models dedicated to the long-term growth of women's basketball in SA," while also affirming "a strong desire to maintain a professional women's basketball team in Adelaide".

This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress.